Rumor: Schadenfreude in St Louie - Will Arenado Be Traded?

[Brock Beauchamp]

To be clear, I don't have anything about Nolan Arenado, he seems like a perfectly reasonable chap who was kinda done dirty by the Colorado Rockies (though being forcibly booted out of that organization is something of a blessing). Jon Heyman asked him a few questions the other day and Arenado says he isn't expecting a trade but wouldn't be surprised by one, either.

Things are bleak in St Louis. The Cardinals aren't used to losing like this and it appears no one really knows how to handle their current struggles. Things were obviously very wrong when Marmol heaved Willson Contreras under the bus and while the Cards have put together a couple of small winning streaks, they've gone right back to losing again afterward.

Truth be told, I hadn't even considered an Arenado trade. While he's aging toward his mid-30s, he's still very productive with the bat and his contract is quite reasonable through 2027, given that the Rockies are on the hook for $5 million per year for the next three years.

It's quite obvious the Cardinals will be selling but to what extent?

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[brewmann04]

No way STL deals him to us unless we include jackson ,Quero and a Top Arm

[Brock Beauchamp]

30 minutes ago, brewmann04 said:

No way STL deals him to us unless we include jackson ,Quero and a Top Arm

Oh no, I don't think he has a shot at coming to Milwaukee, it's more of an interesting thing to note about what the Cardinals might do at the deadline.

[Outlander]

I want what is worst for the Cardinals and would lean toward no trade. Don't want them to get any top prospects or financial flexibility.

[Brock Beauchamp]

1 minute ago, Outlander said:

I want what is worst for the Cardinals and would lean toward no trade. Don't want them to get any top prospects or financial flexibility.

Yeah, that's kinda where I think I am as well.

Though trading Arenado means they will be less of a thread short-term but more of a threat long-term. Which is better?

[KeithStone53151]

I think the Cardinals probably trade him because I think they can get real good offers right now. Arenado is 32 and still a star, the Cardinals are bad and a rebuild would make more sense for them than trying to spend their way to wildcard contenders for a couple years. The farm system isn't quite the same as it once was. Add to that, the corner infield market is very thin. He won't come here, but think about how impactful Arenado could be on the Brewers right now. Complete game changer, whereas aside from him the best obviously available bat on the market at any position is Jeimer Candelario.

The only thing the Cardinals could do that would be smarter than trading Arenado, is to not trade him AND immediately hire Molina for whatever price it would take to be the manager. If that happened, I would immediately place a bet on the Cardinals winning the division before vegas changed the odds.

[Jim French Stepstool]

26 minutes ago, KeithStone53151 said:

 

The only thing the Cardinals could do that would be smarter than trading Arenado, is to not trade him AND immediately hire Molina for whatever price it would take to be the manager. If that happened, I would immediately place a bet on the Cardinals winning the division before vegas changed the odds.

Sometimes I wonder if they've already contacted Molina but he has no interest in stepping into the situation (standings-wise) they're in at the moment.

[Jopal78]

2 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Yeah, that's kinda where I think I am as well.

Though trading Arenado means they will be less of a thread short-term but more of a threat long-term. Which is better?

Arenado has a full no trade clause and approximately 100 million dollars guaranteed between now and the end of ‘26, and no future contributions from Colorado after ‘this year. 

Since he’s cost prohibitive to all but the largest market teams, and can dictate where he goes, the likelihood he’s traded is realistically nil. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

4 minutes ago, Jopal78 said:

Arenado has a full no trade clause and approximately 100 million dollars guaranteed between now and the end of ‘26.

Was this part of his opt-in with the Cardinals? Or did he approve the trade leaving Colorado?

[Jopal78]

Just now, Brock Beauchamp said:

Was this part of his extension with the Cardinals?

Correction, he’s actually owed $115 million through the end of ‘27 but his Cardinals extension allows that money to be deferred. Still has no trade clause as far as what’s been published 

[Brock Beauchamp]

Just now, Jopal78 said:

Correction, he’s actually owed $115 million through the end of ‘27 but his Cardinals extension allows that money to be deferred. Still has no trade clause as far as what’s been published 

Ah, okay. Thanks. 

[KeithStone53151]

49 minutes ago, Jopal78 said:

Arenado has a full no trade clause and approximately 100 million dollars guaranteed between now and the end of ‘26, and no future contributions from Colorado after ‘this year. 

Since he’s cost prohibitive to all but the largest market teams, and can dictate where he goes, the likelihood he’s traded is realistically nil. 

That certainly reduces the odds and potentially the return, but he certainly could have teams he's interested in moving to. He also seems a bit disgruntled where he's at, so he might be more open to moving to really any big market that's legit contending. The Yankees and Dodgers are actually specifically good fits for him off the top of my head.

[Jake McKibbin]

The Yankees and Cardinals have been in business the last while... Dodgers could be a great fit as well, though they're looking to cut costs aren't they to avoid salary tax?

 

[jerichoholicninja]

Ohtani will be an interesting X factor this trade deadline. Not because he might be traded but how many teams are going to avoid adding payroll beyond this season hoping to have room to sign him this winter? I think that alone might keep Arenado from getting traded. Especially to a big market team.

[wibadgers23]

6 minutes ago, jerichoholicninja said:

Ohtani will be an interesting X factor this trade deadline. Not because he might be traded but how many teams are going to avoid adding payroll beyond this season hoping to have room to sign him this winter? I think that alone might keep Arenado from getting traded. Especially to a big market team.

It’s going to be an insane bidding war for Ohtani this offseason. I can only imagine the type of money that will be thrown around.

[BrewerFan]

On 7/11/2023 at 4:37 PM, KeithStone53151 said:

That certainly reduces the odds and potentially the return, but he certainly could have teams he's interested in moving to. He also seems a bit disgruntled where he's at, so he might be more open to moving to really any big market that's legit contending. The Yankees and Dodgers are actually specifically good fits for him off the top of my head.

If he's upset, it's his fault. He did the Cards a huge favor by opting in. If he'd have opted out, he likely gets more money and the Rockies are off the hook for the additional 20M I believe for opting in?

I'd have thought when he opted in, he would have at least gotten an extension from the Cards. Not a long one by any means, but at least tack on a year for saving them money both bidding against other teams and for the money the Rockies were chipping in.

That trade was a steal for the Cards and baffling for the Rockies. But as has been pointed out, they "operate in their own little world."

[KeithStone53151]

12 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

If he's upset, it's his fault. He did the Cards a huge favor by opting in. If he'd have opted out, he likely gets more money and the Rockies are off the hook for the additional 20M I believe for opting in?

I'd have thought when he opted in, he would have at least gotten an extension from the Cards. Not a long one by any means, but at least tack on a year for saving them money both bidding against other teams and for the money the Rockies were chipping in.

That trade was a steal for the Cards and baffling for the Rockies. But as has been pointed out, they "operate in their own little world."

To a degree yes. The manager has been quite the weenie this year, and it's not fun playing on a losing team...he should know that as well as anybody through his time in Colorado. Nobody expected the Cardinals to fall apart quite like they have to this point.